Another Falcon 9 lookalike joins China’s growing roster of rockets

The competition to introduce China's first reusable launch vehicle is proving to be more unpredictable than the similar race that unfolded in the United States a decade ago. Back then, it was clear which company would pioneer the first orbital-class rocket; SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing a Falcon 9 booster in 2015, and just over a year later, it launched that same booster back into space. It took nearly ten years for any other company to replicate that feat. In contrast, recent developments in China have shown that several companies, including state-owned enterprises, are in a strong position to achieve a successful orbital-class booster landing this year. Initially, it appeared that China’s growing number of privately funded launch firms might take the lead in this endeavor. However, the recent launch of the Long March 12B rocket—supported by the extensive resources of China's state-owned aerospace sector—indicates that the established players may now hold an advantage. China faced setbacks in December when its first two attempts to recover heavy boosters ended in failure. On December 2, LandSpace, a company emerging from China’s new wave of quasi-commercial launch providers, launched its Zhuque 3 rocket. Although the launch itself was successful, the booster unfortunately crashed near its intended landing zone in the Gobi Desert. Just weeks later, the Long March 12A, which is developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and part of the traditional government-run space industry, faced a similar outcome on its inaugural flight. As the stakes rise, the race for reusable rocket technology in China is becoming increasingly intense, with various players vying for a breakthrough that could redefine the country’s position in the global space industry.